SoCal Minds

Chapman law dean resigns to pursue AG bid

From Chapman University

He's a constitutional scholar with a conservative viewpoint that had attracted considerable attention to his law school. He's been a frequent author of Op-Eds, a longtime and prominent intellectual voice on the right and recently has provided a philosophic foil to his Orange County liberal friend and fellow dean of the brand new UC law school down the road at Irvine. Now, though, John C. Eastman has heard the siren call of statewide politics. He's stepped down after three years as the law school dean, will remain on the faculty and will pursue, he has announced, a bid to become California Attorney General. There's a crowded early field, especially on the Democratic side, in the race to replace Jerry Brown, with at least one GOP legislator from Orange County contending. Eastman has deep conservative bona fides, as a University of Chicago law school grad, law clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas, Federalist Society member, director of the Claremont Institute's Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, editor of the Claremont Review of Books and co-author of works with Justice Antonin Scalia and Pepperdine prof and now U.S. envoy Douglas Kmiec. He's also jousted, in recent humorous fashion, with Irvine law dean Erwin Chemerinsky, brought vilified Bush administration lawyer John Yoo to Orange and been a frequent guest of right-yakker Hugh Hewitt. A faculty colleague will serve as interim dean as a national search is under way for Eastman's replacement.  

Photo: law deans Chemerinsky , l, and Eastman enjoy a point in recent joust / Chapman University

As prominent conservative voice, dean had boosted attention for Orange law school

A scrutiny of drug war, borders and corruption

From Chapman University

Michael Chertoff, the U.S. Secretary for Homeland Security in the Bush Administration, and Asa Hutchinson, the current director of the Drug Enforcement Agency, will join legal scholars, jurists and other key parties in converging on Orange on Friday for a law review symposium on, 'Drug War Madness: Policies, Borders and Corruption.' The day-long session will be broadcast on the web and will be free and open to judges and students; there will be fees charged for attorneys and those who work in government or the nonprofit sector and continuing legal education credits are available. Reservations are recommended.

Here's the event flyer with speakers, schedule

Here's the law school site with links on the left rail to upcoming session webcasts

Teacher gives a second nifty gift: $3 million

From Chapman University

Just catching up on lots of stuff that slid by during a long holiday sojourn, including the fascinating tale of an alumna who taught kindergartners and first-graders in the Cypress school system, found an Egyptian psychologist who proved to be the love of her life and how they managed their finances so well during four decades of marriage that she has just given her alma mater a $3 million gift to boost K-12 teaching in the school of education. This donation was her second, the first a tidy $1.5 million for a piazza on campus that honors her late husband and serves as a centerpiece of the Orange campus.

Photo: Donna Ford Attalah, alum, teacher and donor / Chapman University

Alumna's donation will boost K-12 teaching; she earlier had donated $1.5 million for piazza

Chapman's impact on county: $204 million a year

From Chapman University

The school, its faculty, students and staff -- via wages, salaries, goods and services, equipment and capital expenditures -- has a total, estimated economic impact on Orange County of $204.2 million annually, researchers say. This estimate, which updates a 1991 study, shows that as the university has sought to increase its educational standing in the last two decades or so, its economic impact -- including the effect of the school on taxes and education costs -- has increased by almost 350%. Researchers take note but did not seek to quantify the university's community benefits, such as how it contributes to the county's cultural, intellectual and recreational life and resources. Just how did the researchers, though, come up with their numbers? Their report explains. Interesting to note that the Trojans this year commissioned outside experts to develop their economic impact data; the Los Angeles university, which has roughly seven times the undergrad and grad enrollment, figures its economic impact at $4.9 billion. 

Push for prominence increases economic effect by estimated 350%

In Orange, a weekend festival of Korean films

From Chapman University

This will be a weekend of cinematic celebration of works from the Land of the Morning Calm, as the folks in Orange have embarked on a major global outreach and snagged a partnership resulting in the new Pusan West Film Festival. That deal with one of Asia's more significant movie showcases, which is highly popular among the young in the Far East and spotlights new films and first-time directors, will bring a dozen Korean films for three days of screenings. Prominent filmmakers from Korea also have been invited to Southern California and there will be special honors for director Park Chan-wook, who is well-known for his popular works that display his careful eye and a brutal subject matter. He also will conduct a master class.

New partnership with Pusan International Film Festival brings top Korean talent west

On tap this week: underworld, state's health, health care, faith, Clinton legacy, 'Moon River'

From Zocalo, Milken Institute, CSULA, Pepperdine & Caltech

In the week ahead, the underworld, state of the state, health care and hospitals, President Clinton and, um, lunar musicality?

 On the Westside, at the Hammer Museum author James Ellroy will take on the crazy '60s on Monday night at 7 as he talks about his latest book, "Blood's a Rover," with moderator Ericka Schickel. The program is free, though space is limited and reservations are required. "Blood" is part of Ellroy's latest "Underworld" trilogy, which followed his L.A. noir quartet, which included "Black Dahlia" and "L.A. Confidential."

Photo: author James Ellroy / Mark Coggins

An evening with best-selling author James Ellroy

In Beverly Hills, it's that time of year again as the Milken Institute brings in a bevy of politicians, policy-makers, experts, movers-and-shakers and influentials on Tuesday to examine the State of the State. This year's program carries the shaky but optimistic title, "On the Road to Recovery." Panels will scrutinize the real estate market, the state budget process, recruiting and retaining high-paying jobs and the employers that provide them, as well as how to keep California's innovative edge and how to best invest in its future. The institute also has done a great job with past events in live-blogging and fast video posting of sessions, so watch this space. There's a fee to attend this event and registration is required.

Is California on the 'road to recovery?'

In East LA, top scholars from several university schools and departments will dissect the latest developments in Washington's attempts to reform health care and the health insurance industry, with a panel Tuesday afternoon that asks: "Can Obama Succeed Where So Many Have Failed?" The panelists will bring to bear their expertise in health policy, hospital finance and health economics.

Experts on panel to consider of health care reform: 'Can Obama Succeed?'

In downtown, a different set of experts will take on a different aspect of health care on Wednesday night at 7 as part of a Zocalo program that will weigh the growth of "retail medical clinics" and how they might affect patient treatment and affordability issues, especially for the poor. The clinics, which are staffed not with doctors but nurse practitioners or physician assistants, handle minor ailments and procedures, employing lower cost personnel and high technology to reduce expenses. Some physicians are wary of them, saying they may overstep their medical bounds, damage crucial doctor-patient relationships and that they need more regulation. The session at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (which is part of the Japanese American National Museum complex in Little Tokyo) is free but space is limited and reservations are recommended. The program will be moderated by Charles Ornstein, ace reporter and investigator for Pro Publica and formerly of the Los Angeles Times.

What do consumers need to know about 'retail medical clinics'

In Pasadena, the scientific crowd will get a different view of lunar thinking as singer Andy Williams, he of "Moon River" fame, will talk about the highs and lows of his musical career on Wednesday night. He'll do some performing, too, during the free, public program presented in connection with Vroman's Bookstore. Tickets are not required but preferred admission tickets are available through Vromans and are being distributed to members of the school community.

A different kind of lunar exploration: 'Moon River' and Me with singer Andy Williams 

In Malibu, the devout will tackle what are described as some of the most difficult questions facing Christians as part of an annual "Veritas Forum" on Wednesday and Thursday, which also will bring in as a speaker Os Guinness, (left) an author and scion the legendary Irish beer-brewing family. He also will be talking to law students about legal practice. As a Christian writer, lecturer and social scientist, Guinness will join Cliff Knechtle, noted pastor of Connecticut's Grace Community Church, in helping forum participants wrestle with the "Thinking Person's Quest for Meaning" and the "Thinking Person's Quest for God."

'Vertias Forum' lets Christians wrestle with toughest topics

In Santa Monica, author Taylor Branch will discuss the 78, 90-minute, confidential sessions President Clinton recorded as part of a White House diary that has become the book, "The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President." The Thursday evening session at 7 at the RAND Corp. is free and open to the public, though space is limited and reservations are required. Clinton recorded the tapes with the author in interviews in the White House Treaty Room, kept them, had them transcribed and let Branch use them for his book.

Author-historian to discuss 'The Clinton Tapes'

Recalling Chicano activism, landmark school case

From CSULA & Chapman

In a region where Latinos not only make up a huge segment of the population but also have a huge and growing sway over the society and culture, it's crucial to recall not only how much social progress has been made but also what happened in the past to get people here now. Wednesday will be a big day of remembrance of different aspects of the social movement. In East LA, four activists will gather for an evening panel to recall the crucial, community-changing events of fall, 1969, when a series of events helped mobilize the Chicano community, including a key draft refusal case, a "war on disease" through the Barrio clinic, a moratorium and a Christmas protest by Catolicos de la Raza; all of this occurred, of course, against a backdrop of national unrest over the Vietnam war and civil rights. In Orange, meantime, advocates will gather in the evening for a parade and other events to commemorate the successful conclusion in 1947 of Mendez v. the Westminster schools, the landmark lawsuit by then-third-grader Sylvia Mendez and her family to force the all-white school district to drop its ban on Mexican Americans and desegregate. On behalf of herself, her family and 5,000 Mexican Americans in the class-action suit, Mendez prevailed the court ruling led California to become the first state in the nation to desegregate its schools, a move commemorated in 2007 with a U.S. postal stamp.

Photo: Mendez family with poster of stamp commemorating their 1947 win in key Calif. school desegregation case

In East L.A., panel of activists to recall fall, '69, turning point

In Orange, a commemoration of landmark 1947 California schools' desegreation case

Are more Nobel Prizes headed to SoCal scholars?

From Chapman University

Those ginormous prizes are notoriously difficult to forecast, much less to figure what exactly they mean in the great scheme of things. Still, there's some pride to be taken in just being mentioned in august company and for consideration. Which is why some folks in Orange County are pumped about quantum theorist Yakir Aharonov, who is acknowledged for his breakthrough work on quantum mechanics, and his recent designation by Thompson Reuters as one of its "Citation Laureates." The news organization takes and compiles what it terms key factors -- including publication, citation and other measures of esteem -- to predict an individual's likelihood of winning the Nobel Prize. They say they have forecast 15 winners, though they don't specify exactly when the prize will be received. The Swedish academy will make its annual series of announcements, starting today (mon). The Thompson Reuters honorees include another Southern Californian: Jacqueline Barton of Caltech, who is recognized for her work on electron charge transfers in DNA.

Does accolade for quantum theorist in Orange County forecast a Nobel Prize?

Click here to see the list Thompson Reuters 'Citation Laureates'

In Orange County, a 'battle' of law school deans

From Chapman

It's billed as the Battle of the Law School Deans. And the Thursday event will offer colorful contrasts between two leading Orange County legal scholars: UCI's Erwin Chemerinsky and Chapman's John Eastman. Sure, they're buddies but they'll offer their spirited and different takes on constitutional interpretation at the 6 p.m. showdown, for which MCLE credit is available. While the event will be free and open to the public, space is limited and reservations are needed. Chemerinsky is presiding over the inaugural class at the UCI law school.

Photo: Deans Chemerinsky, left, and Eastman / Chapman

Law deans in Orange County will go head to head over constitutional interpretation

George McGovern to Honor Doctor, Discuss Lincoln

From Chapman University

The real question is what George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential candidate, won't do when he visits campus on Wednesday? The former U.S. Senator from South Dakota, who long has campaigned against world hunger, first will present the school's highest award for service, the Albert Schweitzer Award of Excellence, to Dr. Anthony Garcia-Prats of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative for his outstanding humanitarian medical aid to children in the African nations of Lesotho and Tanzania. Later, McGovern will speak on "Why Another Book About Lincoln?" and will sign his book, "Abraham Lincoln." He'll also meet the press and is said to be ready to talk about topics such as Iraq and the national health care debate. On Wednesday, McGovern appears at the library honoring Richard M. Nixon, the Republican who defeated him for the presidency.

Top Honors to Go to Pediatrician for AIDS Work in Africa

Click Here to Learn More About the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative

Click Here for Information on Nixon Library Program